LUCKNOW: OBC students came up trumps in the UP Board class X exams with two of the three toppers coming from the socially backward category. Securing 96.5% marks, both Pooja Yadav and Anna Yadav come from lower income groups. While Pooja's father is a police constable, Anna's family does small time farming in Baraiyya, Suratganj, 30 kilometres from Barabanki. They believe that the backward students can be at par with general category, if they are provided quality education at grass-roots level.

Voicing strong views against reservation, Anna said, "In the caste-based reservation, talent takes a backseat. I feel there should be equal opportunities for everyone. For empowering backward classes, the government should provide basic facilities in rural areas." Anna hails from a village, where he has no access to electricity. On the contrary, Pooja feels that reservation is the only way to strengthen the backward students. "Reservation should definitely be there, when it comes to pursue higher education. It helps in bridging a gap between the affluent and needy."

Another topper Rishu Verma, who secured 95.6%, also belongs to backward class. Talking to TOI, she said, "Reservation widens the gap between general and backward class. Providing reservation to backward class gives them a leverage to work less, and the general category students had to put in extra effort,"

In Lucknow, three out of top four students belong to backward class. Sachin Maurya, an OBC who scored 92.8% said, "Reservation for all who are from backward class is unjust. It should be given to those who are deprived of basic facilities, so that they can match up with other classes." Sachin's father is a small-time farmer in Ballia, while his mother is a primary teacher. Two years back, he came to Lucknow in search of good education.

Securing 92.3%, Harshit Maurya, said, "To bridge the gap between the general category students and those belonging to other backward classes, reservation is the only way. It at least ensures that people from backward class have a secured place, be it in education or in a job."

Another OBC topper, Shraddha Singh Yadav was of the view that reservation spoils the very meaning of competition. "There is no space for reservation when it comes to showcase talent. I strongly believe that all students should be treated equally without any discrimination between caste, colour, religion," she said.